Robert, it's been a immense pleasure and we thank you. You remain to us one of the most outstanding actors in the film industry. The members of CynbytheSea are honored to have spent time with you, and we wish a very promising future, with many blessings to you and your family...... ******************************************************************************
1.) Mr. Knepper, after studying your list of credits I'm overwhelmed to see the many various acting credits you have to date. Did you have a favorite type of role to fulfill; and just how do you pick your next achievement? ROBERT: My favorite role is the one I haven't played yet. That'll keep me acting till the day I die. Most times I think roles pick me instead of the other way around. 2.) In television, which series did you enjoy the most? ROBERT: Every series I work on is my favorite. Right now, it's PRISON BREAK. I feel beyond blessed. 3.) Did you find it easier or more difficult to be directed by another actor such as George Clooney in the 2005 movie "Good Night, and Good Luck"? ROBERT: George is an amazing person: talented, very, very smart, funny, encouraging and objective...did it help that he's an actor? Maybe. but I think he'll be remembered for doing it all. 4.) Have you ever, upon finishing a project been affected by the role or outcome you portray? ROBERT: I am still obsessed with and by Bobby Kennedy; and hope to be long after I do another movie about him. 5.) After finishing the year of 2005 with so many endeavors, will you continue with the Prison Break series and do you have any other films in production? ROBERT: PRISON BREAK looks inevitable for a second season and T-Bag will go along for the ride, I hope... (let www.fox.com know if you feel the same). And a huge thank you to all the fans for the People's Choice award! Sandy Meridith ~ Kansas, USA ********************************************************* 6.) I first saw you in the movie "Renegades" as the bad guy and since you seem to portray that type of character a lot.. Do you choose the roles that have the bad guy type characters because you like those best or are they more fun to portray than the good guy characters? ROBERT: I don't choose a part because it's a "bad" or "good" guy. Sometimes I turn down bad guy parts out of boredom from doing the same type of role, sometimes because I'll have a momentary fear of being typecast....then a juicy part like T- Bag in PRISON BREAK comes along and I have to jump at it. (I always try with him to be charming and primal, at the same time)...these kind of characters tend to make choices in their lives that are more interesting to play and watch, than those of the typical "good guys." 7.) I really enjoy watching you on "Prison Break'. How well do you get along with the other cast being all male mostly? ROBERT: LOVE my fellow actors on Prison Break! 8.) What do you enjoy doing most when you are not filming? ROBERT: Chicago is one of my favorite cities. I started out here years ago after finishing at Northwestern University. There is sooooooo much to do here, the people are great,,,,I absolutely love everything about it except for the biting cold weather. Vickie Luke ~ Charleston, WV, USA ************************************************************ 9.) I read somewhere that you like to cook, is this true? And what are a few of your favorite dishes to cook? ROBERT: I love taking all the recipes of my mother's dishes.. Ohio rural, country style...getting rid of all the artificial or frozen crap, and substituting the real thing....meat and potatoes/ casseroles that are healthy and taste like they're from France, Italy, or Spain. 10.) As you get more inside the acting world, do you have more of a say in how your character(s) appear in the project? ROBERT: Yes, if I feel strongly about the "look" of the character (and I usually have fairly definite ideas by the time I walk into the wardrobe or make-up trailers) I will fight for it....I feel it's always a team effort, and luckily every production has always respected my requests, as well. April Guzman ~ Spokane, Washington, USA ************************************************************ 11.) It's one thing to play a one-time character like Henry Collins as a guest role in "La Femme Nikita," but it's another thing to play a recurring character like T-Bag in "Prison Break." How do you separate yourself from the character and leave him on the set when it's time to go home at the end of the day? ROBERT: Slight correction: T-Bag is not "recurring," I am a series regular...big difference, baby! Separation from T-Bag is easy. In the moment, while shooting, I AM T-Bag. When I drive away from the prison, having just faxed my nightly cartoon drawing back to my little boy, back in L.A., I am just myself, with an angel of a son, who needs my attention. Kristen Glanzman ~ Maplewood, NJ, USA ************************************************************ 12.) Have you done any stunts for any production you have been in? ROBERT: I always try to do my own stunts. "Wild Thing" was one of the few movies when I had stunt doubles. 13.) Do you think 'Prison Break' may be your biggest break? Are you being recognized more because of this? ROBERT: Yes, yes, and bring it all on! It's an amazing response! Warren Stewart ~ Perth, Australia ************************************************************ 14.) What was the moment, you knew acting was going be the career you had to pursue? ROBERT: When I was nine, I started acting in a children's theater in my little home town in Ohio....thanks to my mother who did props for the community theater. I loved making people laugh...I have always loved acting, but I thought I might become a Veterinarian, like my father. Once I was at Northwestern University, I realized very quickly I was living my dream not as a vet, but as an actor. Chrissy Langeveld ~ Netherlands ************************************************************ 15.) The episode "Toys in the Basement" of La Femme Nikita, you were in, made me think quite a lot of Hitchcock's "Psycho". Did you watch that movie before turning the episode? What are your inspirations when playing such straining, larger than life roles? ROBERT: Golden rule of my acting, or any actor, I guess: Don't play a bad guy like a bad guy. Don't play a good guy as a good guy. Don't play a doctor like a doctor, etc....play the opposite...the words will take care of themselves. You don't have to have 'em over the head!...find the heart of the character...what drove them to make the decisions in their lives? 16.) What was your experience about playing in "Everybody Says I Love You", with such an amazing director and cast? ROBERT: It was a very small role, but Julia Roberts was a kick to work with! The public reaction to her and Woody Allen, in Venice, Italy was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Julia and I found our moments to get in touch with each other, holding each other to stay warm on those chilly early autumn evenings. I hope to work with both of them again! 17.) How is the experience of playing in a series for cable TV, like "Carnivale", different from one for a more public chain, like "Prison Break"? ROBERT: The work is the same: You bring great people together, you'll walk away happy, even if you're just sitting around a campfire telling a great story. Dana Vrajitoru ~ Indiana, USA ************************************************************** 18.) You have worked in "Haven" playing the role of a medical surgeon (Wyatt Miller) and also in "Species III", carrying out the role of Dr. Abbot. You seem comfortable with this type of role in science fiction. Which genre of movies do you enjoy most? ROBERT: It's not the genre that attracts me--it's the character...and I've played many different types of people...I never want to do the same thing twice. Wyatt was very different from Dr. Abbott. Of course, I was also very different, too: age, experience, etc. 19.) In "Hostage" you played along with veteran actor Bruce Willis, are there fun moments on the set that you can share with us? ROBERT: Bruce is amazing! A real "hands on" actor with the entire production...I earned his trust with my acting...he felt he could throw anything at him and I wasn't intimidated by it, so I throw stuff back to him, moment to moment. There was always a lot of joking around, too! 20.) Since 1986 to date you have carried out 42 films. Which one has given you the most artistic and personal satisfaction? ROBERT: GAS, FOOD, LODGING is very dear to my heart....I got the girl! 21.) In "Absence Of The Good", starring with Stephen Baldwin, you carried out a beautiful interpretation. The plot of the movie is captivating. What reflection did this type of police drama leave you? ROBERT: I learned that these kind of detectives are a lot like actors....thrill seekers. they love the pursuit. Love solving things...it's an adrenaline rush for them to be close to getting the bad guy. 22.) "The Pennsylvania Miners' Story", was based on a real life story, was there any impact on you? ROBERT: I was very close with Mark Popernack, the guy I played in the movie....this was the first gig I had after my son was born...I know I wouldn't have been able to understand what he was going through while trapped in that mine, if I didn't have my family....because of that, Mark and I really connected....also, my mother passed away suddenly during the last week of shooting.....all of it has made that shooting experience an unforgettable one. Ana Marķa- Rosario ~ Argentina ************************************************************** 23.) What is your routine for a day in the life of Robert Knepper? ROBERT: I am in love with my work, always searching...so this takes up a lot of my time...but there's always time for my family, as well as goofing off. Right now, in Chicago, while shooting PRISON BREAK, I'm loving this town....how 'bout those White Sox, huh? The clubs, the unbelievable restaurants and exhibits at museums. 24.) Is there One Role you have not played yet, but would like to? ROBERT: I'd love to play a mentally or physically challenged guy who is not a victim....also a comedic role like Buster Keaton used to do so well: funny without trying. Deb Schwartz ~ Michigan, USA ************************************************************* 25.) If you choose another career outside of acting, which one would that be? ROBERT: I remember anatomy and physiology as being one of my favorite subjects. Plus, my dad is a veterinarian...who knows, maybe someday I'll be a doctor and occasionally shoot a movie. 26.) Have you ever wanted to direct or write screenplays? ROBERT: Yes, hopefully, someday soon, you'll IMDb me, and beside acting credits, you'll see my director credits. 27.) I loved your performance in Species III, is it hard to shoot a movie with that kind of special effects? ROBERT: That monster was very good!! Thanks to the time and effort from the special effects department....would have been a disaster otherwise. Claudia Conde ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina ************************************************************ 28.) I've seen you in many films and television shows, and noticed that you have an immense magnitude of range in voice talent with accents. You're Southern accent, most particularly seems utterly unique and quite authentic, although according to your biography, you were raised in Ohio. Is this quite natural for you, or has there been any special training involved? ROBERT: Yes, I have to say I've always had an ear for accents/dialects...even as a kid I would imitate (like Lyndon Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Tiny Tim from "Laugh In"...and I loved the English,,,like Monty Python)...for most of my roles, I always work with my dialect coach. 29.) I first took notice of you on La Femme Nikita, because the character in which you played, (Henry Collins), in "Toys In The Basement", showed a dark side of a very sick man. You played it extremely well. I had since found other films you've been in. Currently, we can see you in "Prison Break" performing a role as an even deeper psychological monster, mentally powerful, sickly convincing sleazebag. Both, insurmountable acting Sir. Where inside "Robert" do you draw this incredible ability from, to play this type of role so effectively? ROBERT: Who knows? I'm not even sure? Channeling? Divine/Satanic intervention???...I do know that I ALWAYS use my imagination....if I ever actually did some of the things my characters have done, I'd be acting either in a prison or from a coffin....maybe, also, I've always felt for the underdogs. 30.) Can you tell us a bit about your training, where you studied, and what captured you most in the process? ROBERT: I went to Northwestern University for undergraduate. But really gave myself over to learning the craft of acting with Bill Esper, in New York...he's the finest teacher for the Meisner technique. (Sanford Meisner was part of the group theater in New York,, who's members included Lee Strassberg, Stella Adler, etc....they broke apart over disagreements on what is "method" acting.....Meisner's technique is all about imagination, and reacting instead of acting.....Robert Duvall studied with Meisner.) 31.) There appears to be a rather large fan-following for you that lacks information on your personal status, ranging from your music preferences, physical attributes, your age, and whether there is someone waiting at home, once the director says "that's a wrap", can you fill us in? ROBERT: I am a sponge. Whatever the role calls for, that is my age, that's the music I listen to, that's what I gravitate toward in the newspaper....I am always observing....I am now blessed to have a beautiful son who is my biggest inspiration. 32.) Can you tell us about working with Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis on the set of La Femme Nikita? And how did you prepare for this role? ROBERT: Peta was HOT to work with: earthy, sexy, and a hell of lot of fun...she was game for anything when we were acting together....many times, especially on a series, after awhile you start to feel stale, or repetitive...when I worked with her we had amazing chemistry and I'll always remember her being excited by a risk taker, like myself......no prep time to speak of...just latched on to basic wants of the character. 33.) Witnessing you lick "Nikita" in "Toys In The Basement", although the scene was quite effectual for the character, I had to wonder about you outside of acting, what captures your imagination? ROBERT: God, I've done so many roles since "Nikita," I don't remember the "lick"....honestly, too, there have been more occasions than not where I haven't seen the finished product...it's not really important to me...my satisfaction comes from doing the work, not watching it.......my imagination, like all of ours, by the way, is vast. 34.) You have a gift that allows you to bring us to the edge of our seat, turn our heads in disgust, loathe the air you breathe, and want to see more of it. What brings you to your knees? ROBERT: I admit I'm similarly fascinated in : pure, primal, animalistic behavior...watching train wrecks even when you know some heavy shit is going to go down......what brings me to my knees in a good way? my boy, the grand canyon, deep sea diving and earth shattering sex............... Cynthia Wilkerson ~ Texas, USA **************************************************************** COMMENTS: ROBERT KNEPPER ...Thank you all and hope you'll continue to be amazed....lots of love, Robert Knepper
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